Hundreds Rally Against Resignation of MAMS Teacher

Hundreds of supporters rallied outside the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District office Wednesday night for a beloved teacher who claims he was forced to resign after appearing on a reality show.
 
Stefan Serie, a 30-year-old Merrick Avenue Middle School health teacher and coach, appeared on an episode of the Bravo reality show, "Princesses: Long Island."

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District's Board of Education said that they could not legally discuss the details of the matter.

Serie, a Long Beach resident, said that he was forced to resign or be fired after he was seen taking off his shirt during a pool party scene on the show, according to an article in the Daily News.

It was a coerced resignation,”  he told the Daily News. "I want my job and tenure back. I think I deserve it.”

Christine Grassman, who started a Facebook page in support of the teacher, lead the crowd in a chant at Wednesday's rally.

"Bring Serie back, bring Serie Back," the large group screamed as they held signs. Dozens of cars drove by the crowd and honked their horns in support.

Grassman said that Serie encouraged her son, Braden Flax, who is blind, to give his all in everything that he did.

"My son is as blind me and when he was on the wrestling team, Mr. Serie told my son to never give up," she said. "These are the kind of teachers that we need."  

Stacy Grossman, a mother of a child in Merrick Avenue Middle School, agreed. 

"We should not be ashamed of shows about Long Island on reality television, but of a board who gets rid of highly effective teachers," she said.  

Serie's students described him as caring, encouraging and motivational. They said that he is being treated unfairly. 

"I think it's ridiculous," Katherine Ratner, 14, said. "He got fired for something he did in his free time and he did nothing wrong." 

Jack Jones, who had Serie as a wrestling coach, said that the teacher was one of a kind.

"The school will never find someone like him," he said. "He was a great person." 

After the rally, parents and students addressed the board at Wednesday's Board of Education meeting.

More than 20 students stood in front of the administration and expressed their feelings on the matter.

Nicole Baltzer, said that she met Serie when he worked as a health teacher atCalhoun High School. The recent graduate told the board that she believes that they are being unjust. 

"This is getting attention and it is embarrassing," the 17-year-old said. "It is just as bad as that show. Teachers are complaining that the state is telling them how to teach, well now people are telling them how to live their lives too."